Repairing Smiles with Restorative Dentistry in Corpus Christi

Our Corpus Christi dentist and team are dedicated to helping patients preserve their naturally healthy smiles, but in some cases, even the most thorough dental care plan falls short and restorative dentistry is necessary. Dr. Sarah Pitarra has dedicated herself to completing advanced training in order to offer a wide variety of treatment options. We always strive to offer the most conservative treatment options in order to preserve the maximum amount of healthy dental structure. Contact our team to find out more or schedule an appointment today.

Dental Crowns & Bridges

Dental crowns are used for a number of restorative and cosmetic purposes, and they offer durable, long- lasting restoration of damaged dental structures. Dental crowns may be used for the following purposes:

To restore a severely damaged or decayed tooth

To improve the cosmetic appearance of damaged, discolored, or misshapen teeth

To fully restore and protect teeth following root canal therapy

As part of crown supported fixed bridge tooth replacement

As part of dental implant supported single tooth or fixed bridge tooth replacement

Process of Dental Crowns

Regardless of the reason for dental crown tooth restoration, the process is the same. Patients should plan to make two visits to our Corpus Christi practice. During the first appointment, the tooth or teeth to be crowned are prepared by removing dental structure in order to allow it to fit seamlessly within the smile line. Then, we collect dental impressions to be used by our trusted ceramics lab to craft a custom crown. While the final crown is crafted, we place a temporary to protect the prepared structure. Once the custom restoration arrives, patients return to our practice for a second appointment where we’ll exchange the temporary for the final crown.

Process of Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is crafted and placed in much the same manner, but rather than placing a single crown, two crowns are used to support a replacement tooth or teeth. A fixed bridge is a prosthetic that consists of two crowns placed over healthy teeth, supporting the “bridge” that fills gaps following tooth loss.

Root Canals

Root canals have a bad reputation for being extremely painful, but they may actually offer significant relief for the severe toothaches associated with root canal infections. Root canal therapy is the removal of infected tissue and restoration of damaged teeth in order to renew patients’ smiles. Patients may need a root canal if they have trauma or decay that reaches the inner pulp layer of teeth. The pulp houses the nerve systems of teeth, which causes the pain associated with root canal infections.

Root Canal Treatment

Treatment begins by drilling a small access hole into thee tooth through which the entire infected pulp and nerve tissue is extracted. Then, the tooth is refilled with comparable, biocompatible material and resealed. A dental crown is placed over the damaged tooth to protect the restoration and provide additional structure. Patients should contact our team right away if they experience any of the warning signs of root canal infection, including:

Dentures & Partial Dentures

Traditional partial and full dentures have been a reliable tooth replacement solution for decades. Partials are composed of a number of replacement teeth set into a gum-colored base. They fit into gaps in patients’ smiles like a puzzle piece and are held in position with clasps connected to other teeth. Full dentures are similar to partials except they replicate a full arch of teeth set into a larger base that is held in position through natural suction or by using a small amount of denture adhesive. For those interested in more stability, dental implant supported partial and full dentures may be a better option.